MOSCOW - Zenit St. Petersburg has made a double signing of Russia striker Alexander Kokorin and winger Yuri Zhirkov as it tries to keep alive its hopes of retaining the Russian title.

Kokorin is a regular starter for Russia, but will face stiff competition from the likes of Hulk for a place in the Zenit team.

Both join from Dynamo Moscow, which has struggled for funds after lavish spending in previous seasons. Zenit did not give financial details of the transfers.

Zhirkov earlier agreed to join Zenit in the summer when his Dynamo contract expired, but a deal between the clubs allows him to move immediately along with Kokorin.

Zenit is sixth in the Russian league at the winter break.